Try Honesty, it works!
Sarla Kapadia insisted on collecting payment by cheque only for the flat she was trying to sell. “Impossible!” said some friends and relatives. Or was it?

It was a difficult thought when the time came to sell my flat in South Mumbai and move to another place. I had lived there for 37 years and had got used to the life. I had known the people around me. My parents and in-laws also lived close by. My late husband had bought the place when we were in our late 20s. We had moved in with our two sons and our third son was born whilst living there. I remember my husband liked the place so much that he had put down the first instalment of the payment even before showing it to me. Unfortunately, he only lived there for two years before he died of a heart attack in that home. I remember once saying to my family that even if the building was to collapse, I would attempt to hold it up with my hands. There was always a sense of joy and happiness, which grew as my children and I adjusted to a new life without their father.

I believed in listening to my inner voice and had lived an honest straightforward life. I owed this to my parents and also my teacher, who taught me how to live honestly, how not to want more, etc. Even my sons to a great extent influenced me as they also believed in this way of life. Hence, when it was time to sell my house, I was clear that I would accept payment by cheque only or else I would not sell at all. 'Impossible!' said some of my friends and relatives suggesting that there was no other way but to accept part of the money in cash (up to 40% of the total sum). A broker who knew one of my relatives said that would never find a buyer unless I agreed to a cash component.

For five months, almost every single day I had two to three people or families visiting but no one would agree to a full cheque deal. I even turned down an offer from a diamond merchant who was willing to pay much more but not by cheque only. I became very frustrated and was even tempted to give in. Once while taking my daily walk by the sea near our home and feeling quiet fed-up I wondered whether I had made a mistake. As I was walking, a strong wind from the sea struck me on the right cheek as if to say, “You will know by this Saturday.” The message was so clear that I stood still for a moment. It was like a warning imploring me to be patient.

When Saturday came, I got up early and said to myself, “Today is the day!” I was eager to know the meaning of the wind on my cheek two days ba ck. I saw through my window an ordinary man in white kurta pyjama with a walking stick along with his wife making their way towards my house. Surely, they are not the people, I thought, yet I showed them around with great enthusiasm. They belonged to a Marwari family who stayed not far away from our place and wanted to relocate to a new house. The broker who had arranged the meeting came towards the end of our conversation. Soon after they left, the broker called to say that the couple was interested in the house. “What about the payment?” I quipped on the phone. “Oh yes! They agreed to that,” he answered. I later learnt that this gentleman too had wanted to buy by cheque only!

It had happened! The voice carried by the wind on my cheek was right! I think there is evil and good in the world. If you are trying to lead a good life, even 60%, the good will come to you and make you rise and soon 60 turns to 70 and so on. When you are searching for something that has a deeper meaning in life, you can get such intuition or good thoughts that can bring success the way it did to me.

Try honesty. It's possible to live honestly provided we have the patience. I am not saying it's easy but one has to try.

Sarla Kapadia
(As told to Harish Rao)